Rating: 
Summary: Great characters, lots of fun. Where is the rest of it?
Review: Interesting characters, great battles, and lots of potential. But, if this is the whole story, I feel cheated. There is nothing at the end of the book to indicate a sequel to finish the great start.
Rating: 
Summary: Marching to Byzantium - and how to stop it!
Review: Other people's comments have compared this book to S.M.Stirling's The General series but for me it had more of the flavor of Harry Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium. Except for the niggle that most of the good guys joined forces a little too easily, the plot moved well and with good logic. Having just read Eric Flint's Mother of Demons I enjoyed speculating on which author wrote what and who contributed the historical facts. I look forward to the next in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this book!
Review: The cover sold me: a recognizable Byzantine cataphract, with various SF elements in the backgound. I read the blurb on the back, and I knew I had to get it, since my favorite general was mentioned, Belisarius. I regret the choice, and the lost money. This is the worst SF novel I have read since BATTLEFIELD EARTH. While the plot is not bad, the execution of the plot is terrible, and the style of writing is both lame and slow. Belisarius is converted into a kind of Superman, able to learn anything, do anything and kill anything. While David Drake shares the cover and the copyright, I refuse to believe he had much to do with this novel. I have read many of his earlier works, and the writing in this book is not his style. I do intend to avoid anything by Eric Flint, however. Save your money, buy something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Clone of "The General" series with "superman" as the hero
Review: The parallels are so extensive you may think you are reading the same book. The major difference is it happens on earth in Byzantium, instead of far in the future on another planet in a psuedo-Roman empire. If anything it is less interesting from a human perspective because in this story Belesarius seems to be the most perfect speciman of humanity to have ever lived. The following are correlations between the two series that I noticed: Paranoid emperor with wife of questionable background. Insanely competant general with similar questionable background wife. Terrible threat to civilization that can only by thwarted by general. God-like assistance from sentient mind-reading crystal sent back from the future (instead of a sentient computer left over from the past). General in danger from emperor due to competence. Relationship of the two wives used to protect him by working behind the scenes to send him away to "safe" area where he promptly works to save civilization. As part of the scheme, wife pretends to be having affairs. Sentient crystal gives General "visions" of the future to guide his actions and also makes him an unbeatable fighter by speeding up his reactions and making him super-aware. Crystal also helps the war effort by bestowing advanced weapons technology (stirrups, rockets, etc.) upon the general. This is a below average Drake book. I think that the Belesarius character is too perfect, and the key turning points in the plot develop as a result of coincidences that always seem to occur at the right time and move in the right direction. Several other characters seem to share Belesarius' surreal competance. But for Belesarius, everything just seems to be going his way. He never makes a mistake, never loses his composure, much less a fight, never misjudges or missteps. And his handfull of cataphracts and Ethiopian warriors confronts armies and dispatches them all with nary a scratch. So far (this seems to be the first in a series), Belesarius has not really had to make any hard choices or painful sacrifices or to bear the consequences of his determination to pursue his goal, and everything is going his way fabulously. I normally enjoy Drake's books and had hoped for something better, but for me, this just wasn't a very interesting story.
Rating:
Summary: An great example of mixing historical and military fiction
Review: This book is proof of why I am such a fan. He combines opposing elements such as religion and warfare to such a fluidity that you can't but help love this book. His style although sometimes an oblique approach in itself that you don't know where your going. I hope that he does not leave off here, the lengths in which he makes you sympathize with his creations cause a need for more. I highly recomend this book. A definite "10".
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, and historically fairly accurate
Review: This gives you a fair idea of what the man was like who was probably the best general of an empire that was noted for producing competant generals. A good read tho the Sci-fi element is a little silly. (mind reading cyrstals? please...)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read, but coarse in spots
Review: This is a fun book (I read it three times in the first week). In the beginning it does seem to be a repeat of The General series he co-wrote with S.M. Stirling (I was surprised at how closely The General was based on Byzantium), but it soon diverges. The only problems I really had was with the sexual situations, though they do fit in the plot. While it is also an obvious set-up for a series, this just means more books, so I definitely approve.
Rating:
Summary: Dont let the nay-sayers fool ya
Review: This is an extreemly well writen book. The characters are well portrayed, and even remain fairly close to most of the historical accounts of the real people they represent. The research done on middle ages roman warfare was obviously very through, as one would expect from a book with Drakes name on it. The main complaint Ive heard about this book is that the main characters are generally "supermen", with a mere handfull of them literally beating off 10 or 20 times their numbers at points. Thats actually true, but it doesnt weaken the story in my opinion. Rather, I think it lends the book a feeling of high adventure with exagerated heroes similar to those found in classic mythology (you know... perseus, Achiles... those guys). The other complaint is that the characters lack the gritty amorality (realism, a cynic might say) that you so often see in Drakes characters. This is also true, but thats totally a mater of taste. There IS a much more clearly defined line drawn between the "good" guys and the "bad" guys here, but that hardly makes the story weak. Really, what this book puts me in mind of is a land-locked archaic version of David Webers "Honor Harringont" serries, and I strongly reccomend it.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good.
Review: This offers solid historical adventure. I think Drake mainly let his name and historical and military expertise, but the book is still absorbing. Some parts rally the blood and involve the reader more than others, particularly the imagined last stand. Still, the whole of the book is absorbing. The only problems are minor. Some parts are a bit weird, but hey, they expand the imagination...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This was my first David Drake novel and I loved it. The crystal's origins were a bit confusing, but since this I have read every Drake novel I can find. I reccomend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a little language and book-violence. It is interesting to compare this novel to his other works, as they are totally different, but equally good.
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